San Angelo ISD Honors 25 Teachers of the Year

In announcing the 25 teachers honored as “Teachers of the Year” Wednesday afternoon, San Angelo ISD Public Affairs Officer Jamie Highsmith said that together, they represent 416 combined years of teaching experience.

The San Angelo ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year award winner changed the lives of hundreds by winning the hearts and minds of her students, said Stephanie Free who announced the winner, Pam Luce, a first grade teacher from Goliad Elementary.

Above: Jerry Merrill, president and CEO of CEFCU and award-winner Pam Luce, a first grade teacher from Goliad Elementary who is the Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015. (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

The San Angelo ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year was awarded to Jennifer Feck, who teaches eighth grade English at Lee Middle School.

Above: Jennifer Feck who teaches eighth grade English at Lee Middle School, the Secondary School Teacher of the Year. Jerry Merrill is presenting the award.

The district does not award a high school teacher of the year since there are just two main campuses.

President Jerry Merrill and CFO Kathy Gonzalez from Concho Educators Federal Credit Union provided the Teacher of the Year plaques for Wednesday’s annual event.

The selection process is three-pronged. A nomination committee gathers information on nominees and writes the justification for each campus nominee.  The nomination packages are then submitted to the administration building.

There, two separate panels of judges, one from within and another from outside the district, look at the nomination packages and make their decision.

The awardees were announced at a ceremony Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at the Johnson Street Church of Christ Family Center, 2200 S. Johnson St., at 4:15 p.m.

Here are the 2014-2015 Teachers of the Year from each San Angelo ISD campus (on the left presenting is either Kathy Gonzalez or Jerry Merrill of Concho Educators FCU):

Carole McNabb from Alta Loma Elementary. She has 23 years experience and is a graduate of Angelo State University. She teaches third grade.

Deborah Dearth from Austin Elementary. She has 34 years of teaching experience and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in elementary education from Western Illinois University.  (Deborah and friend, I apologize for the picture. You were going too fast for my camera—Joe)

Deborah Luther, Belaire Elementary. A kindergarten teacher, she has 29 years experience and holds a BS in education, K-8.

Cynthia Lewis, Bonham Elementary. She has 36 years experience and is currently the librarian and Bonham. She holds a BA in Elementary Education and a Master’s in reading, both from ASU.

Kimberly Howard, Bowie Elementary. She holds a BA from ASU with 23 years teaching experience. She teaches fifth grade science.

Morgen Smith, Bradford Elementary. She has six years experience and earned her BS in Education from ASU. She has several assignments, but in particular, self-contained second grade.

Julia Wiedenfeld, Crockett Elementary. She holds several degrees, including an associate's from Southwestern Texas Junior College and a Bachelor’s from Southwest Texas State University as well as a degree in Home Economics from ASU. She currently teaches kindergarten.

Patricia Hartman, Fannin Elementary. She has seven years teaching experience. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from Texas Tech University and currently teaches fourth grade.

Susan Paredez, Fort Concho Elementary. She holds a BS from ASU and has 18 years teaching experience. She currently teaches first grade.

Kathy Wells, Glenmore Elementary. She holds a BS from East Texas State University and has 23 years teaching experience. She currently teaches second grade.

Pam Luce, Goliad Elementary.  She holds a BS from ASU and has 30 years teaching experience. She currently teaches first grade.

Tambra Hollway, Holiman Elementary. She holds both a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in School Administration from ASU. She currently teaches third grade math and science.

Natalee Weltz, Lamar Elementary.  She holds a BS in Elementary Education and has taught for five years. Currently, she teaches third grade.

Chelsea Young, McGill Elementary. Has a bachelor’s degree from ASU in Early Childhood Education. She has six years experience and currently teaches second grade.

Janis Dierschke, Reagan Elementary.  From ASU she holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a special education certification.  She has 21 years teaching experience. Currently, she teaches in the specialized support, accommodated classroom.

Stephnie Holt, San Jacinto Elementary. She is known at her school as “Coach Holt” where she teaches all elementary Physical Education.  Her degree is from ASU and she has 17 years teaching experience.

Lynne Springer, Santa Rita Elementary.  She teaches third grade and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management from ASU. She has 17 years teaching experience.

Mike Zuniga, Sam Houston Elementary.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s in School Administration from ASU. He has taught for 16 years. He is an elementary teacher at the special needs school.

Sylvia Graves, Glenn Middle School. She holds a BS in Kinesiology from ASU with seven years teaching experience. She teaches Physical Education Partners, a social skills class for special needs children, regular eighth grade English, and special education eighth grade English language arts.

Jennifer Feck, Lee Middle School. She has 16 years experience. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. She teaches eighth grade English language arts.

Jordan Burrell, Lincoln Middle School.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Agriculture Development and has 12 years teaching experience. He is a teacher for special needs students at Lincoln.

Ruben Brown, Central Freshman Campus. He holds a Bachelor’s from ASU and has seven years experience teaching. He teaches ninth grade pre-AP English.

Joshua Brewer, Central High School. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from ASU. He currently teaches geometry, advanced placement statistics, advanced placement calculus, and coaches cross-country track and softball. He has 12 years teaching experience.

Tamara Shaffer, Lake View High School. She holds a BS from ASU in Biology. She has 13 years teaching experience and currently teaches biology.

David Robbins, Carver Middle School.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree from ASU. He has 25 years teaching experience. He teaches all grades and forms in physical education at Carver.